Process for producing an extract of Hydrangea containing plant powder

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a method for producing a liquid plant extract containing plant powder, which includes concentrating a liquid extract containing an active ingredient in the presence of the plant powder, the liquid extract being obtained from a plant containing the active ingredient; a process for producing a plant extract containing plant powder, which is characterized by concentrating and drying a liquid extract containing an active ingredient in the presence of the plant powder.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for extracting and condensingan active ingredient from a plant containing the active ingredient, aliquid extract or plant extract containing the active ingredient, and afood and drink or feed which comprises the liquid extract or plantextract.

BACKGROUND ART

Extraction of a plant containing an active ingredient, for example,Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium, which can be prepared by collecting andfermenting the leaves and branches of Hydrangea macrophylla SERINGE var.Thunbergii Makino followed by drying, with various solvents such as amixture of a fat-soluble organic solvent and water affords a liquidextract containing an active ingredient such as phyllodulcin. Theconcentrated liquid extract, however, yields highly viscous taffy-likeprecipitate.

The taffy-like precipitate tends to stick to the bottom of a vessel orblock a pipeline, and it is difficult to transfer to another vessel.

On the other hand, the liquid extract containing an active ingredientobtained by extraction with a solvent such as ethanol, when dried bydirect drying with a spray-drier or with drum drier through no procedurefor concentration, affords a very low recovery because the content ofthe solid component in the liquid extract is low. In addition, thisoperation is not a practical way because it requires special equipmentsuch as explosion protector.

Therefore, it is difficult to produce powder highly containing an activeingredient on an industrial scale using a spray-drier or freeze drier.

On the other hand, the taffy-like precipitate is not suitable for use infoods and drinks or feeds or as raw material thereof because thedirectly dried precipitate is very hard.

The extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium with supercritical carbondioxide or liquidized carbon dioxide is rich in phyllodulcin as anethanol-soluble sweetening component, which is however not easy tohandle because it is in a form of paste (Japanese Published UnexaminedPatent Application No. 262772/89).

As plant powder, Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder is exemplified, but thecontent of phyllodulcin in the powder is as low as 1 to 2% by weightbecause it is prepared by pulverizing Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium as such.Though the commercially available powder of Hydrangeae Dulcis Foliumextract for use in foods and drinks is prepared by extraction ofHydrangeae Dulcis Folium with a water-soluble solvent, the content ofphyllodulcin is as low as 2% by weight or less.

Thus, it is not possible to increase the content of an active ingredientin the plant powder by merely pulverizing the plant.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a process forextracting an active ingredient from a plant containing the activeingredient, a liquid extract or plant extract containing the activeingredient, and a food and drink or feed comprising the liquid extractor plant extract.

The invention of the present application relates to the following items(1) to (38).

(1) A process for producing a liquid plant extract containing plantpowder, which comprises: concentrating a liquid extract containing anactive ingredient in the presence of the plant powder, the extract beingobtained from the plant containing the active ingredient.

(2) A process for producing a liquid plant extract containing plantpowder, which comprises a step of preparing a liquid extract containingan active ingredient from a plant containing the active ingredient, anda step of concentrating the liquid extract in the presence of plantpowder.

(3) A process for producing a plant extract containing plant powder,which comprises concentrating and drying a liquid extract containing anactive ingredient in the presence of plant powder and said liquidextract being obtained from the plant containing the active ingredient.

(4) A process for producing a plant extract containing plant powder,which comprises a step of preparing a liquid extract containing anactive ingredient from a plant containing the active ingredient, a stepof concentrating the liquid extract in the presence of plant powder togive a liquid plant extract containing the plant powder, and a step ofdrying the liquid plant extract containing the plant powder.

(5) A process as described in any of the items (1) to (4), wherein theliquid extract containing an active ingredient is prepared by extractingthe plant containing the active ingredient with aqueous ethanol andremoving the resultant plant residue.

(6) A process as described in any of the items (1) to (5), wherein theplant powder is present in an amount of 19 to 1/19 parts by dry weightbased on 1 part of the liquid extract containing the active ingredientby dry weight.

(7) A process as described in any of the items (1) to (6), wherein theplant containing an active ingredient is a plant belonging to the genusHydrangea.

(8) A process as described in any of the items (1) to (6), wherein theplant containing an active ingredient is Hydrangea macrophylla SERINGEvar. Thunbergii Makino.

(9) A process as described in any of the items (1) to (8), wherein theactive ingredient is an ethanol-soluble one.

(10) A process as described in any of the items (1) to (8), wherein theactive ingredient is phyllodulcin.

(11) A process as described in any of the items (1) to (10), wherein theplant powder is in the form of particles of 0.1 μm to 1 mm in averageparticle size in dry state.

(12) A process as described in any of the items (1) to (11), wherein theplant powder is a plant belonging to the genus Hydrangea.

(13) A process as described in any of the items (1) to (11), wherein theplant powder is Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder, green tea powder orturmeric powder.

(14) A process as described in any of the items (1) to (13), wherein theconcentration is conducted by heating under reduced pressure.

(15) A process as described in any of the items (3) to (14), wherein themethod of drying is freeze-drying or heating under reduced pressure.

(16) A liquid plant extract containing plant powder which comprises aliquid extract containing an active ingredient obtained from a plantcontaining the active ingredient and comprises a plant powder, whereinthe content of the active ingredient in the liquid extract is higherthan that in the plant.

(17) A liquid plant extract containing plant powder as described in theitem (16), wherein the liquid extract containing the active ingredientis prepared by extraction with aqueous ethanol.

(18) A liquid plant extract containing plant powder as described in theitem (16) or (17), which comprises the plant powder in an amount of 19to 1/19 parts by dry weight based on 1 part of the liquid extractcontaining the active ingredient by dry weight.

(19) A liquid plant extract containing plant powder as described in anyof the items (16) to (18), wherein the plant containing an activeingredient is a plant belonging to the genus Hydrangea.

(20) A liquid plant extract containing plant powder as described in anyof the items (16) to (18), wherein the plant containing an activeingredient is Hydrangea macrophylla SERINGE var. Thunbergii Makino.

(21) A liquid plant extract containing plant powder as described in anyof the items (16) to (20), wherein the active ingredient is anethanol-soluble one.

(22) A liquid plant extract containing plant powder as described in anyof the items (16) to (20), wherein the active ingredient isphyllodulcin.

(23) A liquid plant extract containing plant powder as described in anyof the items (16) to (22), wherein the plant powder is in the form ofparticles of 0.1 μm to 1 mm in average particle size in dry state.

(24) A liquid plant extract containing plant powder as described in anyof the items (16) to (23), wherein the plant powder is a plant belongingto the genus Hydrangea.

(25) A liquid plant extract containing plant powder as described in anyof the items (16) to (23), wherein the plant powder is Hydrangeae DulcisFolium powder, green tea powder or turmeric powder.

(26) A plant extract containing plant powder which comprises an extractcontaining an active ingredient obtained from a plant containing theactive ingredient and comprises a plant powder, wherein the content ofthe active ingredient in the extract is higher than that in the plant.

(27) A plant extract containing plant powder as described in the item(26), wherein the extract containing an active ingredient is prepared byextraction with aqueous ethanol.

(28) A plant extract containing plant powder as described in the item(26) or (27), which comprises the plant powder in an amount of 19 to1/19 parts by dry weight based on 1 part of the extract containing theactive ingredient by dry weight.

(29) A plant extract containing plant powder as described in any of theitems (26) to (28), wherein the plant containing an active ingredient isa plant belonging to the genus Hydrangea.

(30) A plant extract containing plant powder as described in any of theitems (26) to (28), wherein the plant containing an active ingredient isHydrangea macrophylla SERINGE var. Thunbergii Makino.

(31) A plant extract containing plant powder as described in any of theitems (26) to (30), wherein the active ingredient is an ethanol-solubleone.

(32) A plant extract containing plant powder as described in any of theitems (26) to (30), wherein the active ingredient is phyllodulcin.

(33) A plant extract containing plant powder as described in any of theitems (26) to (31), wherein the plant powder is in the form of particlesof 0.1 μm to 1 mm in average particle size in dry state.

(34) A plant extract containing plant powder as described in any of theitems (26) to (33), wherein the plant powder is that of a plantbelonging to the genus Hydrangea.

(35) A plant extract containing plant powder as described in any of theitems (26) to (33), wherein the plant powder is Hydrangeae Dulcis Foliumpowder, green tea powder or turmeric powder.

(36) A plant extract containing plant powder as described in any of theitems (26) to (35), which is in the form of powder.

(37) A food and drink or feed comprising as an additive a liquid plantextract containing the plant powder as described in any of the items(16) to (25).

(38) A food and drink or feed comprising as an additive a plant extractcontaining the plant powder as described in any of the items (26) to(36).

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As the plant containing an active ingredient, any plant may be used asfar as it contains the active ingredient, for example, wild plant,cultivated plant, or plant obtained by tissue culture.

The term “plant” includes leaves, flowers, branches, stems, fruits,roots, seeds, cultured cells or organs, or callus, which are used assuch or after being treated physically, chemically or biologically.

The physical or chemical treatment includes drying such as sun-drying,air-drying, freeze-drying, disruption, and extraction. The physically orchemically treated matters include dried matters, freeze-dried matters,disrupted matters and extracted matters.

The biological treatment includes fermentation and the biologicallytreated matters include fermented products.

The term “plant containing an active ingredient” includes those asdescribed in Notification No. 243 issued by Director General ofPharmaceutical Bureau, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, “OnRevision of the Criterion for the Scope of Pharmaceuticals”, Attachment3, “List of Component Essence (Raw Materials) Recognized as Foods as faras their indication as pharmaceuticals is not advocated”; those asdescribed in Notification No. 243 issued by Director General ofPharmaceutical Bureau, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, “OnRevision of the Criterion for the Scope of Pharmaceuticals”, Attachment2, “List of Component Essence (Raw Materials) Used Exclusively asPharmaceuticals”; and those belonging to the genus Hydrangea, amongwhich a plant of Hydrangea is preferably used.

The plants described in Notification No. 243 issued by Director Generalof Pharmaceutical Bureau, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, “OnRevision of the Criterion for the Scope of Pharmaceuticals”, Attachment3, “List of Component Essence (Raw Materials) Recognized as Foods as faras their indication as pharmaceuticals is not advocated” includeChondrus crispus, Euphrasia officinalis, phoenix tree, sisal hemp, goosefoot, Astilbe thunbergii, Trifolium pratense, akatetsu, Ulmus fulva,common pyrethrum, Mallotus japonicus, Salidago virga-aurea var.asiatica, Akebia quinata, Cannabis sativa, Pharbitis nil, Alliumschoenoprasum var. foliosum, Phragmites communis, Hydrangea macrophylla,Angelica keiskei, Phaselus angularis, Thujopsis dolabrata, Malpighiaglabra, akkeshisou, burnet-saxifrage, afanizomezon, avocadao, flax,Hydrangea macrophylla subsp. serrata var. thunbergii, Gynostemmapentaphyllum, Tulipa edulis, Zanthoxylum americanum, American ginseng,Apios americana, aragao, Acacia senegal, arame, Chenopodiumambrosioides, marsh mallow, alfalfa, aloe, angelica, kidney vetch,Prunus japonica, Polygonatum odoratumvar. pluriflorum, Plumbagozeylanicum, Polygonum cuspidatum, Taxus cuspidate, fig tree, Abutilonavicennae, Ginkgo biloba, carob, Evodia danielli, Draba nemorosa,Veronica didyma var. lilacina, Nepeta cataria, Salanum nigrum, Oryzasativa, Thymus quinguecostatus, Tinospora crispa, Urtica thunbergiana,Clematis chinensis, Conandron ramondioides, Ixeris stolonifera, Rhodiolarosea, Dolichos lablab, Cissus sicyoides, Indian amacha, Indiankaratachi, Piper longum, Indian yakouboku, inpethiginosa, inperatoria,fennel, Withania somnifera, Scrpus fluviatilis var. yagara, Acanthopanaxsieboldianus, tumeric, Lindera umbellate, tree marrow, Opuntiaficus-indica, Licuala grandis, Aralia cordata, Stauntonia hexaphylla,Ranunculus japonicus, Japanese apricot, Chimaphila japonica, Linderastrychnifolia, Quercus salicina, Prunus grayana, Echinacea angustifolia,Artemisia drucunculus, Acanthopanax senticosus, ezochichikogusa,Fragaria vesca, Cytisus scoprius, Flammulina velutipes, Cassiaobtusifolia, enshishou, Sophora japonica, Avena sativa, Embelia ribes,Isodon japonicus, Astragalus membranaceus, Scutellaria baicalensis,oushuuhannoki, Polygonatum sibiricum, Phellodendron amurense, Dioscoreabulbifera forma spontanea, Coptis japonica, Ficus pumila, Plantagoasiatica, oohangousou, oohireazami, Hordeum vulgare, Seneciointegrifolius var. spathuatus, Salsola komarovi, Panax ginseng,Hypericum erectum, otomeazea, Lamium album var. barbatum, gorgon plant,operukurinatarupetamu, Olea europeaea, Sargassum pallidum, sea onion,Allium bakeri, Pueraria Mirifica, Diospyros kaki, Juglans regia var.orientis, black currant, zedoary, kashutou, kathaba, Valeriana fauriei,Typha latifolia, kabanoanatake, kahun, pumpkin, Typha latifolia, Germanchamomile, Myrciaria dubia, Cyperus microiria, Vicia satira, oat fiber,guarana, kariusuforesukorii, karukehha, Tamarindus inidica, goat's rue,Trichosanthes kirilowii var. japonica, Coriolus versicolor, Prunusarmeniaca var. ansu, sugar cane, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, kanbui,Camptotheca acuminata, rubus, Platycodon grandiflorum, Hovenia dulcis,Helianthus tuberosus, Chrysanthemum morifolium, Cichorium intybus,Auricularia auricula, Citrus junos, Aloe arborescens, Ludwigiaoctovalvis var. sessiliflora, Satureja hortensis, Dictyophora indusiata,Chenopodium quinoa, blessed thistle, Anoectochilus formosanus, Rumexnepalensis, Gymnema sylvestre, Manihot esculenta, Uncaria tomentosa,kyuusetsucha, gyuu-hakutou, Allium victorialis var. platyphyllum, rosebay, Tamarix chinensis, Calluna vulgaris, Ajuga decumbens, kirinsou,Fortunella japonica var. margarita, Lonicera japonica, Hypericumpatulum, Hemerocallis fulva var. kwanso, Desmodium styracifolium,kinsenren, Leucaena leucocephala, Piper betle, Agrimonia pilosa,Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus, Tropaeolum majus, guako, commonguava, guaiacum, absinthium, Lycium chinense, Chaenomeles japonica,Corydalis bungeana, Pueraria lobata, Cinnamomum camphora, Sasa veitchii,Verbena officinalis, Berchemia racemosa, cat whiskers, Cuminum cyminum,kurachai, cranberry, Greenland isotsutsuji, Asperula odorata,grapefruit, clove tree, black mustard, black walnut, Ribes nigrum,kuromai, Pongamia pinnata, Chlorella vulgalis, Morus bombycis, Veronicaundulata, Millettia reticulata, keikotusou, cinnamon bark, kale, poppy,Epiphyllum oxpetalum, laurel, kelp, ken, Combretum grandiflorum,gentian, brown rice germ, sekiren, Engelhardtia chrysolepis, Elsholtziaciliata, Pinguicula ramosa, red algae, Nuphar japonicum, coffee, cola,Acan-thopanax sessiliflorus, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Euphrasis insignissubsp. iinumai, pepper, kojin, coriander, Bidens pilosa, Lysimachiajaponica, Elfvingia applanata, burdock, sesame, Pyhllanthus urinaria,wheat, Ficus elastica, rice starch, koribi, Averrhoa carambola,fenugreek, Laminaria japonica, comfrey, Hippophae rhamnoides, Gleditshiajaponica, bupleurum root, asiasarum root, Cremastra appendiculata,sakyou, Primula sieboldi, Punica granatum, sago palm, Sassafras albidum,sugar beet, saffron, Saponaria officinalis, salacia, Salacia oblonga,Smilax china, Actinidia arguta, salvia, sankakutou, Smilax Rhizome,Crataegus cuneata, pansy, gardenia fruit, Panax pseudo-ginseng, cornusfruit, zanthoxylum fruit, Rosa hirtula var. hirtula, zizyphi spinosisemen, kaempferia, Cassia nomama, dioscorea rhizome, Butyrospermumparkii, Lentinula edodes, Quisqualis indica, sikeijyotei, Lawsoniainermis, Eleusine coracana, jijin, perilla, Betula pendula, Pterocarpussantalinus, violaceae, Tilia japonica, Elymus repens, Kochia scopariavar. littorea, Pandanus veitchii, Capsicum frutescens, shaupedekouro,shaenshi, Stellaria alsine var. undulata, peony root, Adenophoratripylla var. japonica, jasmine, jatoba, jabyakushi, Piper retrofractum,houttuyia herb, jurubeba, Trachycarpus fortunei, ginger, cardamon,Isatis tinctoria, Rheum rhabarbarum, pruinosa, Betula platyphyllasukatchev var. japonica, Bletilla striata, Rosa roxburgii var. plena,Tremella fuciformis, Myrica cerifera, Lycopodium clavatum,shintokukusunoki, sweet orange, zuikaku, sorrel, skullcap, horsetail,Ribes sinanense, stevia, Pinus strobus, spirulina, spearmint, Pfaffiaglomerata, dividivi, violet, surimuamaransu, zurukamara, Cyclocaryapaliurus, seitakakanabikisou, beleric myrobalan, Citrus tangerina, Rubiatinctorum, Urtica dioica, Melilotus officinalis, St. John's wort, Rubusidaeus, Agrimonia eupatoria, Primula obconica, Crataegus oxyacantha,Tilia xeuropium, white willow, prune, Taraxacum officinale, horsechestnut, Fraxinus excelsior, meadow sweet, elder, chaste berry,juniper, yarrow, peppermint, Ilex aguifolium, Vaccunium myrtillus,mushroom, Prunus avium, barberry, sekikoujyu, Acorus gramineus,Vallisneria natans, Alnus japonica, Sambucus sieboldiana, setsurenka,common mallow, Thymus serpyllum, celery, cnidium rhizome, Dioscoreanipponica, Andrographis paniculata, sensou, sensoutou, Melia azedarachvar. subtripinnata, senna leaf, Curculigo orchioides, Senecio scandens,Thuja orientalis, buckwheat, Chinese anise, rhubarb, daikettou, Geumjaponicum, Pseudosteiiar mheterophylia, soybean, jujube, taiwansuku,Trachelospermum jasminoides, Bidens tripartita, Blumea balsamifera,Eclipta prostrate, Bombay black wood, bamboo, hollyhock, thyme, Citrustachibana, Brazilian cherry, Tartary buckwheat, Polygonum tinctorium,taheebo, tamogidake, Aralia elata, Ilex latifolia, Salvia multiorhiza,Lophatherum gracile, tanteihihou, chia, Sasa kurilensis,chishimarurisou, tea, chervil, cha de bugre, Passiflora incarnata,Uncaria rynchophylla, clove, globe artichoke, citrus unshiu peel,Galeola septentronalis, Evernia prunastri, camellia, Centella asiatica,Commelina communis var. communis, tsuriganedake, Pleuropterusmutiflorus, Tetragonia tetragonoides, Codonopsis lanceolata, Basellarubra, tilleul, devil's claw, dunaliella, Gelidium amansii, Rubussuauissmus, Asparagus cochinchinensis var. cochinchinensis, Benincasaesemen, Capsicum annuum, Abutili semen, marigold, Cordycips sinensis,corn, Chelidonium majus var. asiaticum, Centipeda minima, Passifloracaerulea, Juniperus rigida, Aesculus turbinate, Eucommia ulmoides, dogrose, tomato, tongkat ali, Ruscus aculeatus, Capsella bursa-pastoris,Chrysanthemum parthenium, natto, Phoenix dactylifera, Sorbus commixtavar. commixta, gerangal, Choerospondias axillaris var. japonica,nanshouyamaimo, Jatropha curcas, sweet violet, Momordica charantia,nutmeg, Euonymus alatus var. alatus, Tithonia diversifolia, Ligustrumjaponicum, scallion, Ulmus americana, ginseng, Vitex cannabifolia,garlic, Cuphea carthagenensis, Albizzia julibrissin, Celosia argentea,Sonchus oleraceus, saw palmetto, Ampelopsis glandulosa var.heterophylla, wild betal, pineapple, hibiscus, pau d' arco, malt,hakucha, hakutousugi, hakuhishou, stitchwort, Achillea sibirica,Portulacea oleracea, Musa basjoo, Nelumbo nucifera, parsley, butternut,pata de vaca, Mentha arvensis, hakkakureishi, huckleberry, Mucunapuriens var. utilis, Coix lacrymo-jobi, Lagerstrpomia speciosa,Californian poppy, Sparassis crispa, Cassia alata, papaya, Gnaphaliumaffine, Cassia occidentalis, Cnidium japonicum, Rosa rugosa, glehniaroot, rose, jackfruit, Aspidistra elatior, Curcuma aromatica, potato,palo azul, Scutellaria barbata, handaikai, Oregon grape, English holly,Parietaria micrantha, Torreya nucifera, hishinomi, Verbena xhybrida,hyssop, daisy, Papaver rhoeas, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Fucus evanescens,Himalayan ginseng, sunflower, caraway, Erigeron annuus, Vinca minor,Amomum kravanh, Lagenaria leucantha var. gourda, Solanum lyratum,Calystegia japonica, Bilberry, Verbascum thapsus, Japanese loquat,areca, Piper kadzura, pueraria mirifica, bukatou, Tussilago farfara,Lagenaria leucantha var. depressa, Wistaria brachybotrys, Citrus medica,hutabamukusa, Beta vulgaris var. vulgaris, buchu, bush tea, Hibiscusrosa-sinensis, grape, black cumin, black cohosh, blackberry, black root,Pinus cembroides, Plantago ovata, bryonia, blueberry, Citrus hystrix,Citrus maxima, dish wash gourd, monascus, safflower, Crassocephalumcrepidioides, Plantago lanceolata, heruniariasou, Aegle marmelos,hyacinth-bean, rue, Lippia citridora, Impatiens balsamina, hawkweed,Choenomeles speciosa, dandelion, Psoralea corylifolia, Tilia migueliana,peony, hop, jojoba, bold, boroho, white sage, Cirsium sieboldii, marsh,Grifora frondosa, maiten, maka, Clerodendron cyrtophyllum, Zizanialatifolia, machiko, pine, Tricholoma matsutake, Ilex Paraguaynensis,sweet marjorum, milk thistle, Mentha rotundifolia, mulberry, mandarin,purple loosestrife, Polygonum aviculare, Acacia baileyana, Lotuscorniculatus var. japonicus, mint, muirapuama, Sapindus mukurossi,Ophelia pseudo-chinensis, pennyroyal, Acer nikoense, Phellinus linteus,Ocimum basilicum, evening primrose, lemon balm, melon, Actinidiapolygama, Pseudocydonia sinensis, mosshokushi, peach, Terminaliacatappa, Cirsium dipsacolepis, Jew's mallow, yacon, Indian mulberry,Hydrangea grosseserrata, cornflower, palm, Ribes ambiguum, Fraxinusmandshurica, willow, Epilobium angustifolium, Irish moss, Carpesiumabrotanoides, Rhus trichocarpa, yam, Anaphalis margaritacea, Rosadavurica, Kerria japonica, Hericium erinaceus, Vitis coignetiae,Lagenaria leucantha var. clavata, eucalyptus, Thamnolia vermicularis,citron, Daphniphyllum macropodum, yucca, lily, Plantago major, Viburnumprunifolium, Rumex japonicus, European sokuzu, indiangooseberry,mugwort, Chrysanthemum vulgare, Omphalia lapidescens, Rophanus sativus,rye, lo han kuo, rasugurabura, raspberry, peanut, jute, ravensara,lavender, rambutan, Dimocarpus longan, Artcmisia anomala, Strobilanthescusia, Campsis grandiflora, green gram, rooibos, borage, Anagallisarvensis, larkspur, Ganoderma lucidum, reonurususou, lemongrass, lemonthyme, astragal, Desmodium styracifolium, Lathyrus quinguenervius,rosehip, rosemary, roman chamomile, lovage, wild cherry, wild lettuce,horseradish.

The plants described in Notification No. 243 issued by Director Generalof Pharmaceutical Bureau, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, “OnRevision of the Criterion for the Scope of Pharmaceuticals”, Attachment2, “List of Component Essence (Raw Materials) Used Exclusively asPharmaceuticals” include Fraxinus lanuginosa, Arabian chanoki, Arabianmotsuyaku, arnica, Taxus cuspidate, Colchicum autumnale, irisu, Clematischinensis, Artemisia capillaries, Indian gerbera, snake wood, Ficusreligiosa, Epimedium grandiflorum var. thunbergianum, Aristolochiadebilis, Lindera strychnifolia, bearberry, Rosa multiflora, Cytisusscoprius, Corydalis turtschaninovii, Sophora japonica, oukashi, Plantagoasiatica, Astragalus membranaceus, Scutellaria baicalensis,Phello-dendron amurense, Prunus jamasakura, Coptis japonica, Dryopteriscrassirhizoma, oninosu, Rohdea japonica, Polygala tenuifolia, squill,Erythrina variegata var. orientalis, Ampelopsis japonica, Prunellavulgaris var. lilacina, Terminalia chebula, Polygonum multiflorum,Rhamnus purshiana, kakkou, Pueraria lobata, kabane, karabarumame,Trichosanthes kirilowii var. japonica, Carolina jasmine, Coriolusversicolor, Nardostachys chinensis, coltsfoot, kanboui, kanran, Catalpaovata, Citrus leiocarpa, Cinchona succirubra, Notopterygium incisum,Prunus armeniaca var. ansu, Strophantus dichotomus, Sophora flavescens,Mallotus philippinensis, gurifonia sinpurisiforia, Schizonepetatenuifolia, Papaver somniferum, Pharbitis nil, Scrophularia buergeriana,yellow gentian, Geranium thunbergii, Cyperus rotundus, Gelsemiumelegans, Magnolia officinalis, Ligusticum sinense, Picrorhiza kurrooa,goldenseal, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Achyranthes japonica, Evodiarutaecarpa, Polygonum cuspidatum, Rhus java, great burdock, Schisandrachinensis, Citrullus colocynthis, columba, konzurango, Bupleurumchinense, Asarum sieboldii, Sabina, Cynomorium songaricum, Toddaliaasiatica, gerbera, Lobelia sessilifolia, Smilax grabra, Physalisalkekengi var. francheti, Euchresta japonica, Rehmannia glutinosa, Astertataricus, digitalis, Illicium religiosum, Lycium chinense, Arnebiaeuchroma, Tribulus terrestris, Diospyros kaki, Paeonia lactiflora,Cnidium monnieri, Amomum xanthioides, Acorus calamus var. asiaticus,Quescus acutissima,Cimicifuga foetida, Indian poke, Magnolia kobus,Aquilaria agallocha, Menyanthes trifoliate, skullcap, Convallariamajalis var. keiskei, Artemisia apiacea, English hawthorn, Aesculusturbinate, Viscum album var. coloratum, Pyrrosia lingua, Lycorisradiata, Acorus gramineus, Rhododendron degronianun, Dendrobiummoniliforme, snake root, Cnidium officinale, Angelica decursiva, Nupharjaponicum, Rubia argyi, common centaury, Melia azedarach, Alexandriasenna, Inula japonica, Swertia japonica, Amomum tsao-ko, jequirity,Xanthium strumarium, Atractylodes lancea, Orobanche coerulescens, whitemulberry, Aralia alata, Dipsacus asper, Cycas revoluta, sappan wood,Rhamnus japonica var. decipiens, Rheum officinale, Cirsium japonicum,betel, Alisma plantago-aquatica var. orientale, Turnera diffusa, tayuya,Aralia elata, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Phyllostachys nigravar. henonis,Panax japonicus, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Sanguisorba officinalis,Datura metel, Uncaria hirsuta, Polyporus umbellatus, Arisaemaconsanguineum, Gastrodia elata, Asparagus cochinchinensis, wax gourd,Angelica sinensis, Codonopsis pilosula, Juncus effuses var. decipiens,toutsurukinbai, Prunus persica var. davidiana, touryousou, Araliacordata, ipecac root, Cuscuta australis, gutta-perca tree, elecamane,Aconitum japonicum, nandia, corn, Picrasma quassioides, Cistanche salsa,Madagascar periwinkle, Boswellia carterii, Ligustrum lucidum, Veratrumgrandiflorum, Patrinia scabiosaefolia, Fritillaria verticillata var.thunbergii, hakushijin, Dictamnus dasycarpus, Pulsatilla cernua,hakutousugi, Ophiopogon japonicus, Morinda officinalis, Scopoliajaponica, croton oil plant, Virginian witch hazel, bariera, harumara,Pinellia ternata, castor bean, Angelica anomala, Atractylodes chinensis,Santalum album, Stemona japonica, Hyoscyamus niger, Adonis amurensis,bukushinboku, Rubus chingii, Poria cocos, hujikobu, hutabaaoi, Rhamnusfrangula, belladonna, Sinomenium acutum, Imperata cylindrica var.koenigii, Impatiens balsamina, Pteris multifida, Saposhnikoviadivaricata, Typha angustata, Paeonia suffruticosa, podofirumu, Ephedrasinica, Digenea simplex, Cannabis sativa, strychine, aztec tobacco,Vitex rotundifolia, mandrake, Lobelia chinensis, Buddleja officinalis,mimisenna, muira puama, Siegesbeckia pubescens, mouooren, Equisetumhyemale, Akebia quinata, Momordica cochinchinensis, Saussurea lappa,Commiphora abyssinica, Amomum villosum, Leonurus sibiricus, Carpesiumabrotanoides, Jaborandi Folium, yarappa, yukinohana, yu-kiwarisou,Myrica rubra, yohinbe, rhatania, Eupatorium fortunei, Gentiana scabravar. buegeri, ryuunou, Prunus mandshurica, Forsythia suspense,rouhakuka, Pyrola rotundifolia subsp. chinensis, Phragmites communis,Indian tobacco.

Examples of the plants belonging to the genus Hydrangea are Hydrangeamacrophylla Seringe, Hydrangea mavrophylla Seringe var. otaksa Makino,Hydrangea macrophylla Seringe subsp. serrata Makino var. japonicaMakino, Hydrangea macrophylla Seringe subsp. serrata Makino var.acuminata Makino, Hydrangea scandens Seringe, Hydrangea hirata Sieb. etZucc, Hydrangea involucrata Sieb., Hydrangea sikokiana Maxim., Hydrangeapaniculata Sieb., Hydrangea petiolaris Sieb. et Zucc., Hydrangeamacrophylla Seringe subsp. serrata Makino var. amoena Makino, Hydrangeamacrophylla Seringe subsp. serrata Makino var. angustata Makino, andHydrangea macrophylla Seringe var. Thunbergii Makino. Among them,Hydrangea macrophylla Seringe var. Thunbergii Makino is preferablyemployed.

As the plant containing an active ingredient, those as described, forexample, in Pharmacopoeia Japan can be employed.

Examples of the plant as described in Pharmacopoeia Japan are gambir,powdered gambir, opium, powdered opium, Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium,powdered Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium, aloe, powdered aloe, fennel,bearberry leaf, powdered rose fruit, corydalis tuber, astragalus root,scutellaria root, powdered scutellaria root, phellodendron bark,powdered phellodendron bark, coptis rhizome, powdered coptis rhizome,polygala root, powdered polygala root, kaolin, prunella spike, zedoary,pueraria root, Japanese valerian, powdered Japanese valerian,trichosanthes root, glycyrrhiza, powdered glycyrrhiza, platycodon root,powdered platycodon root, catalpa fruit, immature orange, apricotkernel, sophora root, powdered sophora root, schizonepeta spike,cinnamonbark, powdered cinnamonbark, cassia seed, pharbitis seed,gentian, powdered gentian, geranium herb, powdered geranium herb, redginseng, cyperus rhizome, powdered cyperus rhizome, magnolia bark,powdered magnolia bark, oriental bezoar, achyranthes root, evodia fruit,condurango, calumba, powdered calumba, bupleurum root, asiasarum root,smilax rhizome, powdered smilax rhizome, gardenia fruit, powderedgardenia fruit, cornus fruit, zanthoxylum fruit, powdered zanthoxylumfruit, dioscorea rhizome, rehmannia root, digitalis, powdered digitalis,lithospermum root, peony root, powdered peony root, plantago seed,plantago herb, houttuynia herb, ammomum seed, powdered ammomum seed,powdered ginger, cardamon, cimicifuga rhizome, senega, powdered senega,cnidium rhizome, powdered cnidium rhizome, nuphar zhizome, toad venom,senna leaf, powdered senna leaf, swertia herb, powdered sertia herb,atractylodes lancea rhizome, powdered atractylodes lancea rhizome,mulberry bark, perilla herb, powdered rhubarb, jujube, alisma rhizome,powdered alisma rhizome, panax rhizome, powdered panax rhizome,anemarrhena rhizome, clove, powdered clove, chuling, citrus unshiu peel,capsicum, powdered capsicum, Japanese angelica root, powdered Japaneseangelica root, peach kernel, bitter orange peel, ipecac, powderedipecac, tragacanth, powder tragacanth, picrasma wood, powdered picrasmawood, ginseng, ophiopogon tuber, mentha herb, glehnia root, angelicadahurica root, atractylodes rhizome, powdered atractylodes rhizome,sinomenium stem, imperata rhizome, saposhnikovia root, moutan bark,powdered moutan bark, mux vomica, ephedra herb, akebia stem, saussurearoot, bitter cardamon, coix seed, powdered coix seed, Japanese gentian,powdered Japanese gentian, forsythia fruit, and rosin.

There is no particular limitation as to the active ingredients as far asthey are contained in the above-mentioned plant and can be extractedtherefrom by an extraction method as mentioned below, and anethanol-soluble component is preferred.

Examples of the active ingredient are hydrangenol extracted from a plantbelonging to the genus Hydrangea, phyllodulcin extracted from Hydrangeamacrophylla SERINGE var. Thunbergii Makino, e.g., Hydrangeae DulcisFolium, curcumin extracted from turmeric, glabridine or glabrolextracted from licorice root, and apigenin extracted from parsley.

There is no particular limitation as to the method for extracting anactive ingredient from the plant containing the active ingredient, andfor example, extraction with various solvents or supercritical fluidextraction is applicable.

There is no particular limitation as to the solvents used for extractionof the plant as far as the active ingredient can be extracted therewith.Examples of the solvent includes aqueous media such as water, inorganicsalt aqueous solution and buffer solutions, and organic solvents such asalcohol, hexane, toluene, petroleum ether, benzene, ethyl acetate,chloroform, dichloromethane, 1,1,2-trichloroethene, di-methylsulfoxide,and acetone, among which alcohol is preferred.

Water may be water, distilled water, deionized water, or pure water.

Examples the buffer solution are phosphate buffer and citrate buffer.The inorganic salt used in the aqueous solution of inorganic saltincludes, for example, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calciumchloride, and the like.

Examples of the alcohol are monohydric alcohols such as methanol,ethanol, propanol and butanol, and multi-hydric alcohols such aspropylene glycol and glycerol, among which a monohydric alcohol ispreferred, and particularly ethanol is preferred.

These solvents may be used alone or as a mixture. As the mixed solvent,water-containing alcohols are preferred. Water-containing monovalentalcohols are more preferred, and water-containing ethanol isparticularly preferred.

In extracting an active ingredient from the plant containing the activeingredient, it is appropriate to use a solvent which is usable for foodsand drinks or feeds, for example, water, water-containing ethanol, oranhydrous ethanol.

As the solvent, liquidized carbon dioxide or supercritical fluid carbondioxide may also be used.

The liquid extract containing the active ingredient may be prepared byextraction with various solvents or by supercritical fluid extractionunder a condition in which the active ingredient can be extracted fromthe plant containing the active ingredient. The obtained liquid extractmay further be subjected to extraction with various solvents or tosupercritical fluid extraction under a condition that the activeingredient can be extracted. When the active ingredient cannot beextracted or hardly extracted from the plant by extraction with varioussolvents or by supercritical fluid extraction, the resultant extractionresidue may further be subjected to extraction with various solvents orto supercritical fluid extraction under a condition that the activeingredient can be extracted.

For example, when the plant containing an active ingredient is Hydrangeamacrophylla Seringe var. Thunbergii Makino, e.g., Hydrangeae DulcisFolium, in order to extract an ethanol-soluble component such asphyllodulcin, the plant is subjected to extraction with an aqueousmedium, and the resulting extraction residue is further subjected toextraction with water-containing ethanol or anhydrous ethanol. As theplant, dried one is preferably used.

For extraction, the solvent may be used, for example, in an amount of0.1 to 10,000 parts by weight preferably 1 to 100 parts by weight basedon 1 part by weight of the plant. There is no particular limitation asto the extraction temperature, but the extraction is preferably carriedout at 0 to 100° C., more preferably 20 to 90° C. There is no particularlimitation as to the time for extraction, but it may preferably beconducted, for example, for a period of 1 minute to 1 week, morepreferably 30 minutes to 1 day.

There is no particular limitation as to the apparatus used forextraction, and a vessel designed for efficient extraction, a stirrer, areflux condenser, a Soxhlet extractor, a homogenizer, a shaker, asupersonic generator, etc., may be used.

The liquid extract may be treated by means of various solid-liquidseparation such as sedimentation, cake filtration, clear filtration,centrifugal filtration, centrifugal sedimentation, compressionseparation or filter press.

The plant powder may be the same one as that used for extraction of anactive ingredient or powder of a different species of plant. Forexample, when the extract containing an active ingredient is ofHydrangeae Dulcis Folium, the plant powder of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium,green tea, turmeric, and so on may be preferably used.

Examples of the plant used for preparing the plant powder are those asdescribed in Notification No. 243 issued by Director General ofPharmaceutical Bureau, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, “OnRevision of the Criterion for the Scope of Pharmaceuticals”, Attachment3, “List of Component Essence (Raw Materials) Recognized as Foods as faras their indication as pharmaceuticals is not advocated”; those asdescribed in Notification No. 243 issued by Director General ofPharmaceutical Bureau, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, “OnRevision of the Criterion for the Scope of Pharmaceuticals”, Attachment2, “List of Component Essence (Raw Materials) Used Exclusively asPharmaceuticals”; and those belonging to the genus Hydrangea.

The plant used for preparing the plant powder includes, for example,those described in Pharmacopoeia Japan.

For preparing the plant powder, all of the parts of plant may be used,for example, leaves, flowers, branches, stems, fruits, roots, seeds,cultured cells or organs, or callus. Particularly, the parts in whichthe plant tissue such as vessel can be observed with a microscope, forexample, leaves, branches, stems and roots, are preferred. These partsmay be used as such or after being treated physically or chemically orbiologically.

Examples of the method of physical or chemical treatment are drying,freeze-drying, disruption, and extraction. The physically or chemicallytreated matters include dried matters, freeze-dried matters, disruptedmatters and extracted matters. The extracted matters include the residueof the plant obtained after the extraction.

An example of the method of the biological treatment is fermentation,and biologically treated matters include fermented matters.

For preparing the plant powder, the plant, preferably dried plant, iscrushed with a compression crusher such as jaw crusher, gyratory crusheror cone crusher; shearing machine such as cutter mill or shredder;impact crusher such as hammer crusher; roll mill such as roll crusher;rotary mill such as disintegrator or cage mill; screw mill such ascoffee mill; rolling mill such as edge runner; hammering mill such asstamp mill; roller mill such as centrifugal roller mill, ball bearingmill, bowl mill, zego mill, or ong mill; high speed rotary mill such asswing hammer mill, pin mill, cage mill, turbo-type mill, or centrifugalmill; vessel vibrating mill such as rolling ball mill, vibrating ballmill, planetary ball mill, or CF mill; jet mill such as flow-pipe typemill, stirring tank mill, annular-type mill, air suction type mill,impact plate impact miller, or fluidized bed mill; crusher such asultrasonic shredder; stone mortar or mortar.

The product obtained by the above method may further be processedphysically or chemically to give plant powder.

The average particle size of the plant powder is preferably 0.1 μm to 1mm, more preferably 1 to 100 μm, and particularly 2 to 50 μm in a drystate, though there is no particular limitation as far as they are fineparticle.

The average particle size of the plant powder in a dry state can bedetermined, for example by a laser diffraction particle distributionanalyzer.

Alternatively, when the plant powder is swelled with a 1:1 mixture ofglycerol and water, the average particle size of the powder ispreferably 1 μm to 10 mm, more preferably 10 μm to 1 mm, andparticularly 20 to 500 μm.

The average particle size of the plant powder in a swelling state can bedetermined, for example by observation with a microscope.

In the present invention, the liquid extract containing an activeingredient is concentrated in the presence of the plant powder.

The plant powder may be added during the step of extraction of theactive ingredient from the plant or before the step of concentration ofthe liquid extract, so long as the plant powder exists in the liquidextract during the course of concentration before adhesion of theprecipitated extract on the wall of a concentration vessel or beforedeposition of the precipitate of the extract. Preferably, the plantpowder is added to the liquid extract before concentration.

In concentrating the liquid extract containing an active ingredient, theamount of the plant powder to be added is not particularly limited,however, the amount is preferably 19 to 1/19 parts by dry weight, morepreferably 9 to 1/9 parts by dry weight, particularly 3 to ⅓ parts bydry weight for 1 part by dry weight of the active ingredient containedin the liquid extract.

Methods of concentrating the liquid extract containing an activeingredient include concentration under heating and reduced pressure,concentration under heating and atmospheric pressure, concentration witha spray drier or with drum drier and concentration by freeze-drying,among which concentration under heating and reduced pressure ispreferred.

According to the present invention, even if a liquid extract containingan active ingredient is concentrated to such an extent that precipitateis yielded in the liquid extract by the concentration without adding theplant powder, precipitates are not yielded and a plant powder-containingliquid plant extract with excellent fluidity can be obtained.

The obtained plant powder-containing liquid plant extract is dried,without any treatment or after being allowed to stand and removing theupper layer, to thereby obtain a plant powder-containing plantextracted.

The method of drying includes drying under heating and reduced pressure,drying under heating and atmospheric pressure, or drying with a spraydrier or with drum drier, or freeze-drying, among which drying underheating and reduced pressure or freeze-drying is preferred.

The dry product obtained by the present invention can easily bepulverized by a convenient method for pulverizing a plant, for example,compression or rolling with hands.

In the present invention, the content (% by weight) of the activeingredient in the dry product from the liquid plant extract contained inthe plant powder-containing liquid plant extract or that in the dryproduct from the plant extract contained in the plant powder-containingplant extract may be at least the content (% by weight) of the activeingredient contained in the dry plant used for extraction, andpreferably 2 times or more, more preferably 5 times or more, andparticularly 10 times or more.

The dry products of the liquid plant extract, the plant extract, and theplant used for extraction may be prepared respectively from the liquidplant extract contained in a plant powder-containing liquid plantextract, the plant extract contained in a plant powder-containing plantextract, and the plant used for extraction, by drying, for example,drying under heating and reduced pressure, drying under heating andatmospheric pressure, freeze-drying, and the like, up to 10% by weightor lower of moisture content.

When Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium are used as a plant containing activeingredients, phyllodulcin, one of the active ingredients, is usuallycontained in the amount of 1 to 1.5% by weight in the dry product ofHydrangeae Dulcis Folium. Therefore, the content of phyllodulcin in thedry product produced from the liquid extract or extract of HydrangeaeDulcis Folium containing plant powder or the plant extract containingplant powder of the present invention may be higher than 1 to 1.5% byweight, preferably 2% by weight or higher, more preferably 5% by weightor higher.

The contents of the plant powder of the present invention in the liquidplant extract or plant extract containing plant powder may be 19 to 1/19parts by dry weight, more preferably 9 to 1/9 parts by dry weight,particularly 3 to ⅓ parts by dry weight to 1 part by dry weight of theactive ingredient in the liquid extract or plant extract.

The liquid plant extract or plant extract containing plant powder of thepresent invention contains plant powder, in which the content of theactive ingredient therein is higher than that in the plant containingthe active ingredient, which can easily be pulverized.

Although there is no limitation as to the components of the liquid plantextractor plant extract containing plant powder of the presentinvention, it is preferred that an ethanol-soluble component iscontained therein, and its amount is preferably 20% by weight or more,more preferably 30% by weight or more.

The content (% by weight) of the ethanol-soluble component in the liquidplant extract and plant extract containing plant powder of the presentinvention can be determined according to the following method.

The liquid plant extract or plant extract containing plant powder as asample for analysis (70 mg) is precisely weighed in a 2 ml polypropylenetube, and 1.4 ml of guaranteed grade ethanol is added thereto to give a50 mg/ml solution. When the analyte is a liquid extract, it is driedunder reduced pressure, and the resulting solid powder is used as asample for analysis. The tube is capped, then occasionally shaken at40°C. for 1 hour to percolate, and centrifuged at 12,000 rpm for 5minutes to separate a supernatant from precipitate. The supernatant (1ml) is evaporated to dryness, and the weight of the ethanol-solublecomponent is measured. The dry weight of the sample is obtained bysubtracting the dry weight loss from the sample weight to calculate thecontent of the ethanol-soluble component. The dry weight loss may bedetermined as follows. An analytical sample (2 to 6 g) is placed in aweighing bottle of which the weight has been determined in advance, andthe weight is precisely determined. After drying at 105° C. for 6 hours,this is precisely weighed to obtain the weight loss by drying.

The presence of the plant powder in the plant extract containing plantpowder of the present invention can be confirmed by observation with amicroscope equipped with an eye lens of 10 magnifications and with anobject lens of 40 magnifications, for example according to the followingprocedure.

To 0.1 g of the powdered analytical sample was dropwise added a fewdrops of a 1:1 mixture of glycerol and water; the mixture is stirredwell with a small glass stick without generating no foam and allowed tostand for 10 minutes or longer to make the sample swell. A smallquantity of the swelled sample is smeared on a slide glass with a tip ofa glass stick, on which is then dropped one drop of the 1:1 mixture ofglycerol and water. The smear is spread nearly evenly so that tissuepieces are not overlapped, and carefully covered with a cover glass sothat no foam is taken therein.

In observation of the slide glass with a microscope, when a parenchymacomprised of orbicular or polygonal cells, upper and under epidermis,and vessels are observed, particularly when vessels are observed, it canbe confirmed that there is contained plant powder. The vessels may havea pattern such as annellation, spiral, reticulate, pitted orscalariform.

There is no particular limitation as to foods and drinks or feeds towhich the liquid plant extract or plant extract containing plant powderof the present invention is added.

Examples of the foods and drinks to which the liquid plant extract orplant extract containing plant powder of the present invention is addedare juice, soft drinks, soup, tea, dairy products such as lactic acidbacteria beverages, fermented milk, ice cream, butter, cheese, yogurt,processed milk and skim milk, meat products such as ham, sausage andhamburger, fish products, egg products such as Dashimaki (omelet withstock) and Tamago-dofu (steamed beaten egg with soup stock),confectionary such as cookies, jelly, snacks and chewing gum, bread,noodles, pickles, smoked fish and meat, dry fish, Tsukudani (simmeredmeat in soy sauce and sugar), and seasonings.

The form of the foods and drinks includes, for example, powdered foods,sheet-shaped foods, bottled foods, canned foods, retort foods, capsulefoods, tablet foods, liquid foods, drinkable preparations, and the like.

The feeds to which the liquid plant extract or plant extract containingplant powder of the present invention may be added are exemplified bythose which can be fed to animals including mammals, birds, reptiles,amphibians and fishes, for example, those which can be used for petssuch as dog, cat or mouse, domestic animals such as cattle or pig,poultry such as chicken or turkey, or hatchery fishes such as sea breamor young yellowtail. Also included are feeds comprising raw materialsfor feeds, for example, grains, bran, vegetable oil cakes, animal feedmaterials, and other feed materials and purified products.

Examples of the grains are milo, wheat, barley, oats, rye, brown rice,buckwheat, foxtail millet, broomcorn millet, Japanese millet, corn andsoybean.

Example of the bran are rice bran, defatted rice bran, wheat bran, wheatmiddlings, wheat germ, barely bran, screening, pellets, corn bran andcorn germ.

Examples of the vegetable oil cakes are soybean oil cake, soybean flour,linseed oil cake, cotton seed oil cake, peanut oil cake, safflower oilcake, coconut oil cake, palm oil cake, sesame oil cake, sunflower oilcake, rapeseed oil cake, kapok oil cake and mustard oil cake.

Examples of the animal feed materials are fish meal (northern oceanmeal, imported meal, whole meal and coast meal), fish soluble, meatmeal, meat and bone meal, blood powder, degenerated hair, bone meal,treated by-product for livestock, feather meal, silk-worm pupa, skimmilk, casein and dry whey.

Example of the other feed materials are stems and leaves of theplant(e.g., alfalfa, hay cube, alfalfa leaf meal, and powder of falseacacia), processed industrial by-products of corn (e.g., corn gluten,meal, corn gluten feed and corn steep liquor), processed starch product(e.g., starch), sugar, fermentation industrial products (e.g., yeast,beercake, malt root, alcohol cake and soy source cake), agriculturalby-products (e.g., processed citrus fruit cake, tofu cake, coffee cakeand cocoa cake) and others (e.g. cassava, broad bean, guar meal, seaweed, krill, spirulina, chlorella and minerals).

Examples of the purified products are proteins (e.g., casein andalbumin), amino acids, sugars (e.g., starch, cellulose, sucrose andglucose), minerals and vitamins.

The following examples and comparative examples will explain the presentinvention in more detail, but they are not intended to limit the scopeof the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium (10 g) (Shihira Shoten) was extracted with 200ml of 30% ethanol [ethanol of guaranteed grade (Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd.) diluted with pure water] under occasional stirring at 40° C. for 2hours and then filtered through a MIRACLOTH (CALBIOCHEM) to give 180 mlof 30% ethanol extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium. The liquid extract(1 ml) was freeze-dried to give 17.1 mg of dry product of which themoisture content was 10% or lower and the phyllodulcin content was 0.537mg/ml.

To the liquid extract (180 ml) was added 0.4 g of powder of HydrangeaeDulcis Folium (Yasuma Co.), and concentrated in a rotary evaporatorunder heating in vacuo to give 20 ml of concentrate. This concentrateput into a 50 ml-beaker and allowed to stand to yield a homogeneousfluid suspension at the bottom of the beaker. There was recognized nogeneration of taffy-like precipitate. The suspension could easily be putto a lyophilizer and freeze-dried to give a highly disintegrable soliddry product. The obtained dry product was pulverized by kneading withhands to give powder of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extract containingHydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder.

The obtained powder contained about 89% Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extractby weight and 3.0% phyllodulcin by weight.

In this connection, the Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium (Shihira Shoten) usedfor extraction contained 1.55% phyllodulcin by weight, and theHydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder (Yasuma Co.) contained 1.0% phyllodulcinby weight.

The Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder was found to contain 10% by weightof ethanol-soluble component with measurement in the following method.

The sample (about 70 mg, dryweight) was precisely weighed in a 2 mlpolypropylene tube, to which was then added about 1.4 ml of guaranteedgrade ethanol to give a 50 mg/ml solution. The tube was capped, thenoccasionally shaken at 40° C. for 1 hour to percolate, and centrifugedat 12,000 rpm for 5 minutes to separate a supernatant from precipitate.The supernatant (1 ml) was evaporated to dryness, and measured theweight of the ethanol-soluble component. Thus, the rate (% by weight) ofthe ethanol-soluble component to the weight of the sample wascalculated.

In addition, the Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder was confirmed to havevessels by observation with a microscope as follows.

To 0.1 g of the powdered sample was dropwise added 3 drops of a 1:1mixture of glycerol and water, which was stirred well with a small glassstick without generating foam, and allowed to stand for 10 minutes orlonger to make the sample swell. A small quantity of the swelled samplewas smeared on a slide glass with a tip of a glass stick, on which wasthen dropped one drop of a 1:1 mixture of glycerol and water. The smearwas spread nearly evenly so that tissue pieces were not overlapped andcarefully covered with a cover glass so that no foam was taken therein.The slide glass was observed with a microscope equipped with an eye lensof 10 magnifications and an object lens of 40 magnifications.

Additionally, as for the Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder, the particlesize in a dry state was determined with a laser diffraction particledistribution analyzer (Particle Size Analyzer; JEOL HELOS & LODOS),which indicated the average particle size was 5.5 μm.

EXAMPLE 2

Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium (10 g) (Shihira Shoten) was extracted with 200ml of 40% ethanol [ethanol of guaranteed grade (Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd.) diluted with pure water] under occasional stirring at 40° C. for 2hours and then filtered through a MIRACLOTH (CALBIOCHEM) to give 180 mlof 40% ethanol extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium. The liquid extract(1 ml) was freeze-dried to give 17.5 mg of dry product of which themoisture content was 10% or lower and the phyllodulcin content was 0.763mg/ml.

To the liquid extract (180 ml) was added 0.4 g of powder of HydrangeaeDulcis Folium (Yasuma Co.), and concentrated in a rotary evaporatorunder heating in vacuo to give 30 ml of concentrate. This concentratewas put into a 50 ml-beaker and allowed to stand to yield a homogeneousfluid suspension at the bottom of the beaker. There was recognized nogeneration of taffy-like precipitate. The suspension could easily be putto a lyophilizer, and freeze-dried to give a highly disintegrable soliddry product. This was pulverized by kneading with hands to give powderof Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extract containing Hydrangeae Dulcis Foliumpowder.

This powder contained about 89% Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extract byweight and 4.0% phyllodulcin by weight.

EXAMPLE 3

Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium (10 g) (Shihira Shoten) was extracted with 200ml of 50% ethanol [ethanol of guaranteed grade (Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd.) diluted with pure water] under occasional stirring at 40° C. for 2hours and then filtered through a MIRACLOTH (CALBIOCHEM) to give 180 mlof 50% ethanol extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium. The liquid extract(1 ml) was freeze-dried to give 16.5 mg of dry product of which themoisture content was 10% or lower and the phyllodulcin content was 0.853mg/ml.

To the liquid extract (180 ml) was added 0.4 g of powder of HydrangeaeDulcis Folium (Yasuma Co.), and concentrated in a rotary evaporatorunder heating in vacuo to give 30 ml of concentrate. This concentratewas put into a 50-ml beaker and allowed to stand to yield a homogeneousfluid suspension at the bottom of the beaker. There was recognized nogeneration of taffy-like precipitate. The suspension could easily be putto a lyophilizer and freeze-dried to give a highly disintegrable soliddry product. This was pulverized by kneading with hands to give powderof Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extract containing Hydrangeae Dulcis Foliumpowder.

This powder contained about 89% Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extract byweight and 4.7% phyllodulcin by weight.

EXAMPLE 4

Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium (10 g) (Shihira Shoten) was extracted with 200ml of 60% ethanol [ethanol of guaranteed grade (Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd.) diluted with pure water] under occasional stirring at 40° C. for 2hours and then filtered through a MIRACLOTH (CALBIOCHEM) to give 180 mlof 60% ethanol extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium. The liquid extract(1 ml) was freeze-dried to give 14.9 mg of dry product of which themoisture content was 10% or lower and the phyllodulcin content was 0.861mg/ml.

To the liquid extract (180 ml) was added 0.4 g of powder of HydrangeaeDulcis Folium (Yasuma Co.), and concentrated in a rotary evaporatorunder heating in vacuo to give 30 ml of concentrate. This concentratewas put into a 50 ml-beaker and allowed to stand to yield a homogeneousfluid suspension at the bottom of the beaker. There was recognized nogeneration of taffy-like precipitate. The suspension could easily be putto a lyophilizer and freeze-dried to give a highly disintegrable soliddry product. This was pulverized by kneading with hands to give powderof Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extract containing Hydrangeae Dulcis Foliumpowder.

This powder contained about 89% Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extract byweight and 5.2% phyllodulcin by weight.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1

Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium (10 g) (Shihira Shoten) was extracted with 200ml of 30% ethanol [ethanol of guaranteed grade (Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd.) diluted with pure water] under occasional stirring at 40° C. for 2hours and then filtered through a MIRACLOTH (CALBIOCHEM) to give 180 mlof 30% ethanol extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium. The liquid extractto which was added nothing was concentrated in a rotary evaporator underheating in vacuo to give 20 ml of concentrate. This concentrate was putinto a 50 ml-beaker and allowed to stand for 30 minutes to yield ataffy-like precipitate at the bottom of the beaker. This precipitate hadno fluidity and homogeneity. This precipitate was stuck on the bottom ofthe beaker and could not be dispersed by shaking. Therefore, it was noteasy to put the precipitate into a lyophilizer. Lyophilization of theprecipitate gave hard tarry dry product, which was stuck inside a vesselof the lyophilizer and could not easily be recovered. The dried productcould not be crushed by kneading with hands.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2

Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium (10 g) (Shihira Shoten) was extracted with 200ml of 40% ethanol [ethanol of guaranteed grade (Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd.) diluted with pure water] under occasional stirring at 40° C. for 2hours and then filtered through a MIRACLOTH (CALBIOCHEM) to give 180 mlof 40% ethanol extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium. The liquid extractto which was added nothing was concentrated in a rotary evaporator underheating in vacuo to give 30 ml of concentrate. This concentrate was putinto a 50 ml-beaker and allowed to stand for 30 minutes to yield ataffy-like precipitate at the bottom of the beaker. This precipitate hadno fluidity and homogeneity. This precipitate was stuck on the bottom ofthe beaker and could not be dispersed by shaking. Therefore, it was noteasy to put the precipitate into a lyophilizer. Lyophilization of theprecipitate gave hard tarry dry product, which was stuck inside a vesselof the lyophilizer and could not easily be recovered. The dried productcould not be crushed by kneading with hands.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 3

Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium (10 g) (Shihira Shoten) was extracted with 200ml of 50% ethanol [ethanol of guaranteed grade (Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd.) diluted with pure water] under occasional stirring at 40° C. for 2hours and then filtered through a MIRACLOTH (CALBIOCHEM) to give 180 mlof 50% ethanol extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium. The liquid extractto which was added nothing was concentrated in a rotary evaporator underheating in vacuo to give 30 ml of concentrate. This concentrate was putinto a 50 ml-beaker and allowed to stand for 30 minutes to yield ataffy-like precipitate at the bottom of the beaker. This precipitate hadno fluidity and homogeneity. This precipitate was stuck on the bottom ofthe beaker and could not be dispersed by shaking. Therefore, it was noteasy to put the precipitate into a lyophilizer. Lyophilization of theprecipitate gave hard tarry dry product, which was stuck inside a vesselof the lyophilizer and could not easily be recovered. The dried productcould not be crushed by kneading with hands.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 4

Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium (10 g) (Shihira Shoten) was extracted with 200ml of 60% ethanol [ethanol of guaranteed grade (Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd.) diluted with pure water] under occasional stirring at 40° C. for 2hours and then filtered through a MIRACLOTH (CALBIOCHEM) to give 180 mlof 60% ethanol extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium. The liquid extractto which was added nothing was concentrated in a rotary evaporator underheating in vacuo to give 30 ml of concentrate. This concentrate was putinto a 50-ml beaker and allowed to stand for 30 minutes to yield ataffy-like precipitate at the bottom of the beaker. This precipitate hadno fluidity and homogeneity. This precipitate was stuck on the bottom ofthe beaker and could not be dispersed by shaking. Therefore, it was noteasy to put the precipitate into a lyophilizer. Lyophilization of theprecipitate gave hard tarry dry product, which was stuck inside a vesselof the lyophilizer and could not easily be recovered. The dried productcould not be crushed by kneading with hands.

EXAMPLE 5

Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium (10 g) (Shihira Shoten) was extracted with 200ml of 30% ethanol [ethanol of guaranteed grade (Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd.) diluted with pure water] under occasional stirring at 40° C. for 2hours and then filtered through a MIRACLOTH (CALBIOCHEM) to give 180 mlof 30% ethanol extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium. The liquid extract(1 ml) was freeze-dried to give 17.1 mg of dry product of which themoisture content was 10% or lower and the phyllodulcin content was 0.537mg/ml.

To the liquid extract (180 ml) was added 0.4 g of powder of HydrangeaeDulcis Folium (Yasuma Co.), and concentrated in a rotary evaporatorunder heating in vacuo to give 20 ml of concentrate. This concentratewas put into a 50 ml-beaker and allowed to stand to yield a homogeneousfluid suspension at the bottom of the beaker. There was recognized nogeneration of taffy-like precipitate. After standing, the upper layer(10 ml) of the concentrate was removed from the lower layer. The lowerlayer could easily be put to a lyophilizer and freeze-dried to give ahighly disintegrable solid dry product. This was pulverized by kneadingwith hands to give 0.6 g of powder of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extractcontaining Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder.

This powder contained about 53% Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extract byweight and 6.0% phyllodulcin by weight. As to this powder, the contentof ethanol-soluble component was determined and the vessels wereobserved according to the method as described in Example 1. The contentof the ethanol-soluble component was 25% by weight, and the vessels wereobserved.

EXAMPLE 6

Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium (10 g) (Shihira Shoten) was extracted with 200ml of 40% ethanol [ethanol of guaranteed grade (Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd.) diluted with pure water] under occasional stirring at 40° C. for 2hours and then filtered through a MIRACLOTH (CALBIOCHEM) to give 180 mlof 40% ethanol extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium. The liquid extract(1 ml) was freeze-dried to give 17.5 mg of dry product of which thephyllodulcin content was 0.763 mg/ml.

To the liquid extract (180 ml) was added 0.4 g of powder of HydrangeaeDulcis Folium (Yasuma Co.), and concentrated in a rotary evaporatorunder heating in vacuo to give 30 ml of concentrate. This concentratewas put into a 50 ml-beaker and allowed to stand to yield a homogeneousfluid suspension at the bottom of the beaker. There was recognized nogeneration of taffy-like precipitate. After standing, the upper layer(20 ml) of the concentrate was removed from the lower layer. The lowerlayer could easily be put to a lyophilizer and freeze-dried to give ahighly disintegrable solid dry product. This was pulverized by kneadingwith hands to give 0.6 g of powder of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extractcontaining Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder.

This powder contained about 53% Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extract byweight and 8.0% phyllodulcin by weight. As to this powder, the contentof ethanol-soluble component was determined and the vessels wereobserved according to the method as described in Example 1. The contentof the ethanol-soluble component was 34% by weight, and the vessels wereobserved.

EXAMPLE 7

Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium (10 g) (Shihira Shoten) was extracted with 200ml of 50% ethanol [ethanol of guaranteed grade (Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd.) diluted with pure water] under occasional stirring at 40° C. for 2hours and then filtered through a MIRACLOTH (CALBIOCHEM) to give 180 mlof 50% ethanol extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium. The liquid extract(1 ml) was freeze-dried to give 16.5 mg of dry product of which thephyllodulcin content was 0.853 mg/ml.

To the liquid extract (180 ml) was added 0.4 g of powder of HydrangeaeDulcis Folium (Yasuma Co.), and concentrated in a rotary evaporatorunder heating in vacuo to give 30 ml of concentrate. This concentratewas put into a 50 ml-beaker and allowed to stand to yield a homogeneousfluid suspension at the bottom of the beaker. There was recognized nogeneration of taffy-like precipitate. After standing, the upper layer(20 ml) of the concentrate was removed from the lower layer. The lowerlayer could easily be put to a lyophilizer and freeze-dried to give ahighly disintegrable solid dry product. This was pulverized by kneadingwith hands to give 0.6 g of powder of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extractcontaining Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder.

This powder contained about 53% Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extract byweight and 8.0% phyllodulcin by weight. As to this powder, the contentof ethanol-soluble component was determined and the vessels wereobserved according to the method as described in Example 1. The contentof the ethanol-soluble component was 34% by weight, and the vessels wereobserved.

EXAMPLE 8

Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium (10 g) (Shihira Shoten) was extracted with 200ml of 60% ethanol [ethanol of guaranteed grade (Kishida Chemical Co.,Ltd.) diluted with pure water] under occasional stirring at 40° C. for 2hours and then filtered through a MIRACLOTH (CALBIOCHEM) to give 180 mlof 60% ethanol extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium. The liquid extract(1 ml) was freeze-dried to give 14.9 mg of dry product of which thephyllodulcin content was 0.861 mg/ml.

To the liquid extract (180 ml) was added 0.4 g of powder of HydrangeaeDulcis Folium (Yasuma Co.), and concentrated in a rotary evaporatorunder heating in vacuo to give 30 ml of concentrate. This concentratewas put into a 50 ml-beaker and allowed to stand to yield a homogeneousfluid suspension at the bottom of the beaker. There was recognized nogeneration of taffy-like precipitate. After standing, the upper layer(20 ml) of the concentrate was removed from the lower layer. The lowerlayer could easily be put to a lyophilizer and freeze-dried to give ahighly disintegrable solid dry product. This was pulverized by kneadingwith hands to give 0.6 g of powder of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extractcontaining Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder.

This powder contained about 53% Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extract byweight and 8.0% phyllodulcin by weight. As to this powder, the contentof ethanol-soluble component was determined and the vessels wereobserved according to the method as described in Example 1. The contentof the ethanol-soluble component was 38% by weight, and the vessels wereobserved.

EXAMPLE 9

Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium (20 g) (Shihira Shoten) was extracted with 400ml of water with occasional stirring at 40° C. for 2 hours and thenfiltered through a MIRACLOTH (CALBIOCHEM) to give an extraction residue.This residue was extracted with 400 ml of 60% ethanol [ethanol ofguaranteed grade (Kishida Chemical Co., Ltd.) diluted with water] underoccasional stirring at 40° C. for 2 hours and then filtered through aMIRACLOTH to give an extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium. The liquidextract (1 ml) was freeze-dried to give 4.5 mg of dry product of whichthe phyllodulcin content was 0.66 mg/ml. The phyllodulcin content in theHydrangeae Dulcis Folium extract solution was 15% as a rate of the totalsolid portion.

To the liquid extract (about 400 ml) was added 1.6 g of powder ofHydrangeae Dulcis Folium (Yasuma Co.), and concentrated in a rotaryevaporator under heating in vacuo to give 60 ml of concentrate. Thisconcentrate was put into a 100 ml-beaker and allowed to stand for 30minutes to yield a homogeneous fluid suspension at the bottom of thebeaker. There was recognized no generation of taffy-like precipitate.After standing, the upper layer (40 ml) of the concentrate was removedfrom the lower layer (20 ml). The resulting lower layer could easily beput to a lyophilizer and freeze-dried to give a highly disintegrablesolid dry product. This was pulverized by kneading with hands to give2.5 g of powder of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extract containingHydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder.

This powder contained about 55% Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extract and18.0% phyllodulcin by weight. As to this powder, the content ofethanol-soluble component was determined and the vessels were observedaccording to the method as described in Example 1. The content of theethanol-soluble component was 50% by weight, and the vessels wereobserved.

EXAMPLE 10

The same procedure as in Example 9 was repeated except for adding 1.6 gof powder of green tea (Mino Shirakawa Ground Tea Co.) to about 400 mlof an extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium, in stead of adding 1.6 g ofHydrangeae Dulcis Folium, and 60 ml of concentrate was obtained. Theobtained concentrate was put into a 100 ml-beaker and allowed to standfor 30 minutes to yield a homogeneous fluid suspension at the bottom ofthe beaker. There was recognized no generation of taffy-likeprecipitate. After standing, the upper layer (40 ml) of the concentratewas removed from the lower layer (20 ml). The resulting lower layercould easily be put to a lyophilizer and freeze-dried to give a highlydisintegrable solid dry product. This was pulverized by kneading withhands to give 2.5 g of powder of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extractcontaining green tea powder.

This powder contained 36% Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extract by weight and15.0% phyllodulcin by weight. As to this powder, the content ofethanol-soluble component was determined and the vessels were observedaccording to the method as described in Example 1. The content of theethanol-soluble component was 53% by weight, and the vessels wereobserved.

Additionally, as for the green tea powder, the particle size in a drystate was determined by a laser diffraction particle distributionanalyzer (Particle Size Analyzer; JEOL HELOS & LODOS), which indicatedthe average particle size was 4.4 μm.

EXAMPLE 11

The same procedure as in Example 9 was repeated except for adding 1.6 gof powder of powdered turmeric (Kaneka Sun Spice Co.) to about 400 ml ofan extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium, in stead of adding 1.6 g ofHydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder, and 60 ml of concentrate was obtained.The obtained concentrate was put into a 100 ml-beaker and allowed tostand for 30 minutes to yield a homogeneous fluid suspension at thebottom of the beaker. There was recognized no generation of taffy-likeprecipitate. After standing, the upper layer (40 ml) of the concentratewas removed from the lower layer (20 ml). The resulting lower layercould easily be put to a lyophilizer and freeze-dried to give a highlydisintegrable solid dry product. This was pulverized by rolling withhands to give 2.5 g of powder of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium extractcontaining powdered turmeric.

This powder contained 36% Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium by weight and 15.0%phyllodulcin by weight. As to this powder, the content ofethanol-soluble component was determined and the vessels were observedaccording to the method as described in Example 1. The content of theethanol-soluble component was 53% by weight, and the vessels wereobserved.

Additionally, as for the powdered turmeric, the particle size in a drystate was determined by a laser diffraction particle distributionanalyzer (Particle Size Analyzer; JEOL HELOS & LODOS), which indicatedthe average particle size was 31.7 μm.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 5

The same procedure as in Example 9 was repeated except for adding 1.6 gof dry yeast (DIFCO) to about 400 ml of an extract of Hydrangeae DulcisFolium, in stead of adding 1.6 g of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder, and60 ml of concentrate was obtained. The obtained concentrate was put intoa 100-ml beaker and allowed to stand for 30 minutes to yield taffy-likeprecipitate at the bottom of beaker but not a highly fluid homogeneoussuspension.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 6

The same procedure as in Example 9 was repeated except for adding 1.6 gof cellulose (Oriental Yeast Co.) to about 400 ml of an extract ofHydrangeae Dulcis Folium, in stead of adding 1.6 g of Hydrangeae DulcisFolium powder, and 60 ml of concentrate was obtained. The obtainedconcentrate was put into a 100-ml beaker and allowed to stand for 30minutes to yield taffy-like precipitate at the bottom of beaker but nota highly fluid homogeneous suspension.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 7

The same procedure as in Example 9 was repeated except for adding 1.6 gof agar (DIFCO) to about 400 ml of an extract of Hydrangeae DulcisFolium, in stead of adding 1.6 g of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder, and60 ml of concentrate was obtained. The obtained concentrate was put into a 100 ml-beaker and allowed to stand for 30 minutes to yieldtaffy-like precipitate at the bottom of beaker but not a highly fluidhomogeneous suspension.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 8

The same procedure as in Example 9 was repeated except for adding 1.6 gof starch (Nippon Starch Chemical Co.) to about 400 ml of an extract ofHydrangeae Dulcis Folium, in stead of adding 1.6 g of Hydrangeae DulcisFolium powder, and 60 ml of concentrate was obtained. The obtainedconcentrate was put into a 100 ml-beaker and allowed to stand for 30minutes to yield taffy-like precipitate at the bottom of beaker but nota highly fluid homogeneous suspension.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 9

The same procedure as in Example 9 was repeated except for adding 1.6 gof Pinedex #1 (Matsutani Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) to about 400 ml ofan extract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium, in stead of adding 1.6 g ofHydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder, and 60 ml of concentrate was obtained.The obtained concentrate was put into a 100 ml-beaker and allowed tostand for 30 minutes to yield taffy-like precipitate at the bottom ofbeaker but not a highly fluid homogeneous suspension.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 10

The same procedure as in Example 9 was repeated excepted for adding 1.6g of gum arabic (Kishida Chemical Co., Ltd.) to about 400 ml of anextract of Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium, in stead of adding 1.6 g ofHydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder, and 60 ml of concentrate was obtained.The obtained concentrate was put into a 100 ml-beaker and allowed tostand for 30 minutes to yield taffy-like precipitate at the bottom ofbeaker but not a highly fluid homogeneous suspension.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 11

The same procedure as in Example 9 was repeated excepted for adding 1.6g of lactose (Kishida Chemical Co., Ltd.) to about 400 ml of an extractof Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium, in stead of adding 1.6 g of HydrangeaeDulcis Folium powder, and 60 ml of concentrate was obtained. Theobtained concentrate was put into a 100 ml-beaker and allowed to standfor 30 minutes to yield taffy-like precipitate at the bottom of beakerbut not a highly fluid homogeneous suspension.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, a process for extracting an activeingredient from a plant containing the active ingredient, a liquidextract or plant extract containing the active ingredient, and a foodand drink or feed containing the liquid extract or plant extract, areprovided.

1. A process for producing an extract of Hydrangea, which comprises thesteps of: obtaining a liquid extract of Hydrangea; admixing a plantpowder with said liquid extract; and concentrating said admixed powderand liquid extract by heating under reduced pressure only.
 2. A processfor producing an extract of Hydrangea, which comprises the steps of:obtaining a liquid extract of Hydrangea; obtaining a plant powder;admixing said plant powder with said liquid extract; and concentratingsaid admixed powder and liquid extract by heating under reduced pressureonly.
 3. A process for producing an extract of Hydrangea, whichcomprises the steps of: obtaining a liquid extract of Hydrangea;obtaining a plant powder; admixing said powder with said liquid extract;concentrating said admixed powder and liquid extract by heating underreduced pressure only; and drying said concentrated mixture of powderand liquid extract.
 4. A process as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3,wherein the liquid extract is prepared by extracting Hydrangea withaqueous ethanol and removing the resultant residue.
 5. A process asclaimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the powder is present in anamount of 19 to 1/19 parts by dry weight based on 1 part of the liquidextract by weight.
 6. A process as claimed in claim 5, wherein theHydrangea is Hydrangea macrophylla SERINGE var. Thunbergii Makino.
 7. Aprocess as claimed in claim 6, wherein the extract containsphyllodulcin.
 8. A process as claimed in claim 5, wherein the powder isin the form of particles of 0.1 mm to 1 mm in average particle size indry state.
 9. A process as claimed in claim 8, wherein the powder isHydrangea powder.
 10. A process as claimed in claim 8, wherein thepowder is Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder, green tea powder or turmericpowder.
 11. A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the powder ispresent in an amount of 19 to 1/19 parts by dry weight based on 1 partof the liquid extract by weight.
 12. A process as claimed in claim 11,wherein Hydrangea is Hydrangea macrophylla SERINGE var. ThunbergiiMakino.
 13. A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein the extractcontains phyllodulcin.
 14. A process as claimed in claim 11, wherein thepowder is in the form of particles of 0.1 mm to 1 mm in average particlesize in dry state.
 15. A process as claimed in claim 14, wherein thepowder is Hydrangea powder.
 16. A process as claimed in claim 14,wherein the powder is Hydrangeae Dulcis Folium powder, green tea powderor turmeric powder.